Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) was founded in October 2002 as a result of a Global Conference in Ottawa, Canada, where the GOPAC Secretariat is also based[1] .170 parliamentarians and 400 observers
dedicated to fight corruption and improving governance met and as a result the GOPAC constitution was born. GOPAC is one out of six global parliamentary organizations focusing on specific issues[2] , and is the only international network of parliamentarians focusing exclusively on combating corruption. Members of GOPAC are current or former legislators and their collaboration is non-partisan and voluntary. . [3]
The majority of GOPAC's work is connected to education and training of good governance and anti-corruption issues, this is done through analysis, and providing information, establishing international benchmarks and improved public awareness through a combination of global pressure and national action[4] . GOPAC is supporting and closely cooperating with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNAC[5] and they also partner with European Union[6] , Transparency International, the World Bank, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and Organisation for Economic Co-operations and Development (OECD). Through the partnership with GOPAC, organizations, governments and NGOs get access to legislators around the world that can offer help and assistance in fighting corruption. [7]
GOPAC has stated its visions as “[achieving] accountability and transparency through effective anti-corruption mechanisms and inclusive participation and cooperation between parliamentarians, government and civil society.” And to achieve this vision their mission is to: “assist and support parliamentarians in their advocacy and legislation to make governments accountable and transparent. “ [8]
Members
GOPAC is a global network with members representing more than 50 countries from many parts of the world. Different parts of the world are represented by regional chapters that work within a local context. GOPAC is represented in Africa, Oceania, Arab region, Souteast Asia, South Asia, Latin America and the Carribean and national network that is not affiliated with a regional chapter, representing countries such as Albania, Azerbaijan, Canada, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Serbia, the UK and Ukraine.
Parliamentarians fighting corruption
Parliamentarians have responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of legislation, e.g. they approve the national budget and all government revenues and expenditure and therefore they play a central role in combating corruption. To fight corruption parliaments and parliamentarians can affect the design and implementation of a national anti-corruption strategy and the legislation. Also collaborate with the executive in strengthening anti-corruption policies and procedures. [9] GOPAC has in connection with World Bank, International Monetary Fund created a guideline to strengthen oversight through parliamentarian-donor collaboration to ensure that countries and governments do not misuse their received funds. [10]
Strengthening women's capacity to fight corruption
GOPAC has established a network called Women in Parliamentarian Network and the network is intended to support the efforts of female parliamentarians combating corruption and to strengthen democracy and good governance. Women make up just over 50% of the world's population but only in average 20,7% of parliamentarians. GOPAC believes that the participation of women in politics and their different perspective would help to discover new dimensions in the fight against corruption. [11]
Alger, C. F. (2010). Expanding Governmental Diversity in Global Governance: Parliamentarians of States and Local Governments. Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, 16(1), 59-79.
Overview
Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) was founded in October 2002 as a result of a Global Conference in Ottawa, Canada, where the GOPAC Secretariat is also based[1] .170 parliamentarians and 400 observersTable of Contents
dedicated to fight corruption and improving governance met and as a result the GOPAC constitution was born. GOPAC is one out of six global parliamentary organizations focusing on specific issues[2] , and is the only international network of parliamentarians focusing exclusively on combating corruption. Members of GOPAC are current or former legislators and their collaboration is non-partisan and voluntary. . [3]
The majority of GOPAC's work is connected to education and training of good governance and anti-corruption issues, this is done through analysis, and providing information, establishing international benchmarks and improved public awareness through a combination of global pressure and national action[4] . GOPAC is supporting and closely cooperating with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNAC[5] and they also partner with European Union[6] , Transparency International, the World Bank, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, and Organisation for Economic Co-operations and Development (OECD). Through the partnership with GOPAC, organizations, governments and NGOs get access to legislators around the world that can offer help and assistance in fighting corruption. [7]
GOPAC has stated its visions as “[achieving] accountability and transparency through effective anti-corruption mechanisms and inclusiveparticipation and cooperation between parliamentarians, government and civil society.” And to achieve this vision their mission is to: “assist and support parliamentarians in their advocacy and legislation to make governments accountable and transparent. “ [8]
Members
GOPAC is a global network with members representing more than 50 countries from many parts of the world. Different parts of the world are represented by regional chapters that work within a local context. GOPAC is represented in Africa, Oceania, Arab region, Souteast Asia, South Asia, Latin America and the Carribean and national network that is not affiliated with a regional chapter, representing countries such as Albania, Azerbaijan, Canada, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Serbia, the UK and Ukraine.Parliamentarians fighting corruption
Parliamentarians have responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of legislation, e.g. they approve the national budget and all government revenues and expenditure and therefore they play a central role in combating corruption. To fight corruption parliaments and parliamentarians can affect the design and implementation of a national anti-corruption strategy and the legislation. Also collaborate with the executive in strengthening anti-corruption policies and procedures. [9] GOPAC has in connection with World Bank, International Monetary Fund created a guideline to strengthen oversight through parliamentarian-donor collaboration to ensure that countries and governments do not misuse their received funds. [10]Strengthening women's capacity to fight corruption
GOPAC has established a network called Women in Parliamentarian Network and the network is intended to support the efforts of female parliamentarians combating corruption and to strengthen democracy and good governance. Women make up just over 50% of the world's population but only in average 20,7% of parliamentarians. GOPAC believes that the participation of women in politics and their different perspective would help to discover new dimensions in the fight against corruption. [11]Stapenhurst, R., Johnston, N., & Pelizzo, R. (Eds.). (2006). The role of parliament in curbing corruption. World Bank Publications.
Alger, C. F. (2010). Expanding Governmental Diversity in Global Governance: Parliamentarians of States and Local Governments. Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, 16(1), 59-79.
Williams. J. in Stapenhurst, R., Johnston, N., & Pelizzo, R. (Eds.). (2006). The role of parliament in curbing corruption. World Bank Publications.
GOPAC. Overview. Available http://gopacnetwork.org/overview/
GOPAC. Anti-Corruption Assessment Tool for Parliamentarians. Available: http://gopacnetwork.org/Docs/AntiCorruptionAssessmentTool_EN.pdf
http://gopacnetwork.org/Docs/GOPAC_PN%20Guidelines_FINAL_EN.pdf
GOPAC. Annual Report 2012-2013. Available: http://gopacnetwork.org/Docs/AnnualReport_2012_2013_EN_WEB.pdf